MVDs: Mizzou Edition

You don’t walk into the raucous crucible of ice and Rotel dip that is Faurot Field in December and leave with a convincing conference victory without a few players stepping up to answer the call. These hearty souls are your MVDs, the Most Valuable ‘Dawgs from Georgia’s 49-14 victory over Missurah.

Offense: George Pickens. Georgia might have beaten the Tigers without Pickens, but it would have been an awful lot tougher. His 5 catches for 126 yards led all receivers in the game. But more than that his awe-inspiring 36 yard shoe top touchdown catch just before halftime gave the Red and Black the lead back after a dreadful second quarter in which Georgia squandered a 14 point lead. Pickens then made a 31 yard touchdown catch on the opening drive of the third quarter that felt like the body blow from which the Tigers never recovered.

Defense: Latavious Brini. Truth be told, the entire Bulldog defense put up a stellar team effort, giving up its lowest yardage total of the season and holding Missouri’s all-time leading rusher at running back, Larry Rountree, to 16 yards on 14 carries. Mizzou has been averaging 519 yards of total offense in their last three outings, and never really got on track in this one.

But I’m going with Brini because while his statistics weren’t jaw-dropping (2 solo tackles, 1 assist) his snaps continue to increase and he played consistent pass coverage. I’m expecting him to step into an even bigger role in 2021, and I’m excited to see what he can do in his senior season after waiting patiently behind some really outstanding players in the Bulldog secondary.

Special teams: Jake Camarda. I don’t know if Coach Cochran doesn’t too much time this week lobbying for the Vanderbilt job or what, but it was not a good day for the special teams unit that had been a bright spot all season. Missouri turned the first UGA blocked punt of the season into a momentum-shifting touchdown. Jack Podlesny missed on his only field goal attempt of the day. Kearis Jackson muffed a punt return that very nearly turned into a disaster.

Camarda on the other hand punted twice, a 55 yarder and a 43 yarder (which probably should have been downed inside the five but, again, mistakes were made). It wasn’t glorious, but it was functional, which was all we could ask for on this day.

As always feel free to drop your selections in the comments, and...

Go ‘Dawgs!!!